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Thursday, July 30, 2015

Saturday July 4th was going to be a really exciting day! In the morning, French Café organised an amazing meeting with none other than RinRin Doll at the crêperie Princess Crêpe. In the afternoon, the Angelic Pretty Tea Party would take place at the massively expensive Shangri-La Hotel, near the Eiffeltower. This day had everything to become amazing, but I am going to tell you beforehand for me personally it was not. Because Saturday was the hottest day of my whole trip. Now I know the majority of people don’t do well in heat, but I really don’t do well in heat. So unfortunately, the heat caused me to enjoy this day at least 50% less than I could have. I did enjoy myself though, and luckily the ‘after fun’ (editing pictures and making videos) has given me some extra fond memories. However, do forgive me for the amount of borrowed pictures again. I hope you will like this post anyway.
So for your reading pleasure, I will describe the events of this day slightly more cheerful than I felt (with the occasional heat-related whine). ♥

Marina and I woke up early in the morning. We had a swift breakfast (I wasn’t feeling too well, so not much for me) and started to get ready. Marina decided to wear her lovely Sweet Girl Room one piece in pink (she modelled the ivory version for Angelic Pretty in KERA last year, how cool is that?) in a lovely outfit with a bowler hat that I will show you down this post.
Back home I had a hard time choosing what I wanted to wear for the Tea Party. I feel like my Lolita style is slightly shifting, but unfortunately I don’t own any dresses that fit my new style (yet). So in the end, I decided to wear my absolute Dream Dress: Milky Berry! I adore this dress so much! Wearing it at an official Tea Party would be the ultimate homage. I decided to wear a fairly simple outfit during the morning and elaborate my outfit for the Tea Party in the afternoon with a different blouse, legwear and handmade pieces. This was my ‘normal’, morning outfit (taken at the hotel of the Tea Party but sssh). I hope you like it! ♥

I am really happy with how my hair turned out for this day! Ever since I started Lolita I admired girls (and Maki) with their big, poofy pigtails. I am so glad I get to live my young Lolita self’s dream!
Finally, it was time to go and Marina and I headed to the metro station with our bags filled with extra items we needed later. It was quite a stressful start of the day, since some miscommunication happened plus Marina and I accidentally got separated on the metro! In the end she waited for me at Bastille and we continued our journey to Princess Crepe together. We were very curious to see how many people had shown up, seeing as we heard some people were planning on queueing super early. When we walked around the corner, there were a lot of people but not as much as we expected, so that was great! ^^ We quickly joined Roxane in the queue. Suddenly, another stress factor happened: I realized I had taken everything I needed with me for that day… except for my Angelic Pretty Tea Party invitation. I felt so stupid and it became too much for me for a moment. In the end it was fine and my name would be on a list, but still… I felt like a total idiot. Oh well.

Waiting in line to meet RinRin at Princess Crepe.

It was actually rather cool during the morning compared to the rest of the day, which was nice. There were a lot of people I knew standing in line and I also met some new people. But everyone looked equally cute and/or amazing! I wish I took pictures of everyone, but here are some of the pictures I took. ^^

Standing in line was quite nice, since you could easily chat and take pictures while waiting. I was very happy to catch up with my friend Eveline and Astrid, who I didn’t know very well yet. I also met up with Emilie after such a long time again! After a while, one of the members of French Café walked by to write down orders for crêpes. In this way, the line could move more easily so everyone who wanted to could meet RinRin. Good organisation, as expected from French Café. ^^ I ordered a crêpe with vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce and walnuts.
Soon, it was our turn to enter the shop. Marina was especially excited to meet RinRin: she is her idol and she’d never met her before! Marina had been working on a special drawing for RinRin during the past days and now she could finally give it to her!
I quickly paid for my crêpe and took pictures of Marina. After that, it was my turn to meet RinRin and sit down on the chair next to her. She was happy to see me again and of course I was very happy to see her again too! ^^ First, we smiled for the picture (taken by Aliénor of French Café).

Doesn’t RinRin look gorgeous in Marine Kingdom? God, this dress is growing on me more and more…
After taking the pictures, I had to write my name down on a piece of paper, so RinRin could sign a picture of herself and correctly spell my name next to it. We chatted for a bit and it was just so lovely. ♥ She is such a sweetheart. ;_;
When French Café announced they had set up a meeting with RinRin, I suspected she would be coming to the Angelic Pretty Tea Party that afternoon as a surprise guest. This presumption was only strengthened by the fact RinRin had to leave on time because she had ‘other commitments’. I think most people guessed the same thing together with me, haha! So when I asked her whether I would see her that afternoon at the Tea Party, she accidentally revealed she would indeed be there! Ugh she was just so cute! ♥

I had too many pictures with RinRin that I loved, so I made them into a little story. I got a hug again!

I want to thank French Café upfront for their wonderful effort that day, but also for their kindness and awesomeness. Every single member is so kind and fun to talk to! You guys are awesome!

I am glad French Café always behaves so professionally. They are very serious when it comes to their work. XD
Right picture by French Café

After I took some pictures for my friend as well, I went outside and finally ate my crêpe (that Zoé so graciously had held onto for me)! I ended up not finishing it, but it was very good nonetheless.

A true Lolita’s breakfast(?).

Marina had to go to her ‘secret’ appointment (more info on this later), so I stayed behind with Roxane and ate my crêpe. Suddenly we heard a cry of panic. It turned out one of the girls, Lauren, had spilled caramel sauce all over her beautiful Dolly Cat dress. She was crying and completely in panic, but luckily some girls managed to get the stains completely out with some water and soap!
Roxane and I went to the metro and soon walked into some fellow Lolitas. Together we went to the location of the Tea Party: the Shangri-La Hotel.

The sign to the fancy Shangri-La Hotel.

We didn’t spot the hotel right away, but we didn’t have to walk far. The street in which the hotel was located wasn’t really super fancy, but the hotel looked quite beautiful with lovely French balconies and a car service of course!

Ah, fancy hotels in Paris are so… fancy.

Even though there was still about an hour left until the Tea Party would start, I boldly asked a kind staff lady whether we could maybe take a rest for a while. It was no problem at all and she guided us to a part of the hotel with all these fancy rooms, one after another, there seemed to be no end to them! We sat down on some chairs and took outfit pictures.

Just chillin’ in an expensive hotel in Paris. That’s what I do.

After a while, I went downstairs to the toilets to change into my updated Tea Party outfit~! The toilets were absolutely stunning (as expected) and many people were already changing or doing their hair and makeup. It was quite fun hanging out in the toilets, haha! I changed my socks and shoes and put on my hand made flower crown with strawberries. Sophie was kind enough to attach my veil to my blouse. Initially I had wanted to wear a princess sleeves blouse, but it meant I had to get out of my dress, change my blouse and put my dress back on. I was just too hot and icky for that, so I ended up wearing my short-sleeved Baby, the Stars Shine Bright blouse. I know, such a sin! A Baby blouse to an Angelic Pretty Tea Party! >0< But well, it was self-preservation…
Anyway, here is my updates Tea Party outfit. I hope you like it! ♥

In the meantime, I was reunited with Eveline, Astrid and Iris again. Finally, it was time to go to the Tea Party room! I followed the stream of beautiful Party guests and walked up a big flight of stairs. There was a special, golden sign with ‘Angelic Pretty Tea Party in Paris’ on it. Very fancy!

Our fancy private sign and the grand staircase.

At the top of the stairs, we arrived in a beautiful, big open room where people were standing in line to have their tickets checked. Even though I had been so stressed about forgetting my invitation, there was a list with names and numbers, so everthing was fine in the end.

Tro-Tro and Ludo checking everyone’s tickets.

I waited for a while until I picked up my own number since there were many people waiting, plus I was distracted by the beautiful hotel!

Girls waiting in line with their invitations.

The ceiling and walls of the big open room were decorated with gold and marble and there were beautiful stained glass windows. I was getting more and more curious what the main Tea Party room would be like, since this place was already so gorgeous!

Isn’t this place absolutely stunning!?

I left my bag at the wardrobe, went to pick up my card with my number, no. 48, and sat down for a while until we could enter the main room. By this time I wasn’t feeling very well already, but I ignored it.

My scepter guarding my Tea Party number.

Finally, it was time to enter the Tea Party room~! I followed the stream of people and entered the room. It was so beautiful! I really felt like I had arrived in a mini version of Versailles! The walls and ceiling were white and covered in amazing gold ornaments. There were mirrors on opposite walls, chandeliers and beautiful curtains. In front of one of the mirrors was a small, black stage positioned.

Isn’t this ceiling like a dream? I want to live here!

Round tables with small flowers pieces, plates, cutlery and small pastries were scattered all over the room. Lots of seats were taken already, so I quickly took a seat myself.

Everyone taking places.

A voice sounded through a microphone and everyone sat down. The two ladies who had been present as translators and organisers were present again and one of them was translating. She asked whether she should speak in both French and English and through the whole room it sounded ‘Yes~!’ She walked us through the programme of the Tea Party: there was time for food and chatting, there would be an exclusive fashion show, a raffle and of course the result of the best outfit contest. There would also be a special guest (I wonder who it could be? *o* Hehe). Then, Maki and Asuka appeared and welcomed everyone. I was so happy to see them again! ♥ Asuka thanked everyone for coming despite the heat, haha!

Maki and Asuka looked amazing as usual. Maki looks gorgeous in lavender and Castle Mirage is a beautiful print! I really like to see how Maki’s style as ‘evolved’ through the years. I have seen her sport huge pink cotton candy hair to big poofy ponytails to subtle, natural styles like this. I am really looking forward to see where she will go next!
I also absolutely adored Asuka’s pink outfit. Every Tea Party I have been to Asuka has worn pink. I know she wears other colours too, but it’s true! I think this is my favourite outfit from her though, she looked so stunning!
Then, it was time for drinks and pastries! Every table had enough pastries for every guest to have one of every kind. Plus, we also each had a small glass with red fruits in them.

Amazing Tea Party food. My absolute favourite pastry was the yellow meringue one, which I called ‘the party hat’.

Next to every plate was a piece of paper, on which you had to write the number of your favourite outfit. I thought the print was just so cute! I was a shame we had to give it away again…
Suddenly a loud crash sounded. Iris, who was sitting at my table, had put had put her handmade carousel next to her chair and it fell over and broke! She was really sad about it of course, she had worked really hard on it! Luckily Maki and Asuka could comfort her.
We were joined by two more girls at our table and we talked with each other for a bit. It’s always nice to get to know new people.

Eveline pouring Yoki some water. Water was very popular at this party.

After the lovely food, I walked around for a bit and talked to people. I also took a look at the prize table of course. There were a lot of wonderful prizes again!

The lovely prize table. I especially loved the chocolate bags.
Pictures by French Café

Finally, it was time for the fashion show! I was really excited for this and with good reason. There were six models in total, showing three prints. The first two girls were Bloody and Marina! Remember when I wrote about Marina’s ‘secret meeting’? It was actually modelling rehearsal! ^^ She and Bloody showed us Classic Fairy Tales, a brand new print that was completely unknown to the rest of the world at that moment! We were the very first people to see it. The print really reminded me of Baby, the Stars Shine Bright actually, with a forest and little animals. It was quite lovely. Both girls walked with confidence (even though Marina had a shorter walk because her walking route was obstructed by someone). They did so well!
I was busy filming the whole show and even though I do have some pictures, I will show you French Café’s pictures anyway. ^^

The next two models wore Dreamy Planetarium, a print that had shown up in KERA magazine before. It’s so beautiful in real life! I think I love it in every colour now!

Marine and Anastassia wearing Dreamy Planetarium.
Pictures by French Café

And finally, the last print: Luminous Sanctuary and also my biggest crush of the day. This print was shown in KERA magazine before as well and I already liked it back then, but at the Tea Party I fell head over heels in love with it. This print is just so different and beautiful and elegant and everything positive! Maybe one day I can say I own it, I would really like that… Also, the announcement of the special guest! Guess who it was? RinRin indeed! ♥

So beside the fact that I adore RinRin to no end, she also made me love Luminous Sanctuary even more… Isn’t this print gorgeous?

All the models in a row. Don’t they look gorgeous? ♥

It was such an honour and a pleasure to be able to see an Angelic Pretty fashion show in real life! I am so happy I got to have this wonderful experience. Like I said, I also made a video of the show, to let others experience some of the magic too~! ✧.
I hope you will like it. ♥

After the fashion show, we could walk around and chat with each other again. Even though the room was air-conditioned (I felt the actual heat outside on the balcony, which made inside feel like heaven) but I was still feeling really hot. I kept on trying to keep my head up and enjoy myself nonetheless.
In the room next to the Tea Party room, French Café had set up a corner to take pictures in with balloons and cute, Angelic Pretty-related signs, like text balloons saying ‘I need a Misty Sky re-re-re-re-release’ and ‘We want more chocolate prints’, but also an Angelic Pretty bow, Dolly Cat and cross. A lot of cute pictures were taken there, so I shamelessly will post some of my favourites here, also to give you a little look in some of the amazing outfit at the Tea Party.

After walking around the room for a bit, I managed to take pictures with both Maki and Asuka. I somehow kept missing out on RinRin, but I was glad I had already had spent so much time with her at the Japan Expo and of course during the morning meeting.
Some people really have a preference when it comes to Maki and Asuka, but I really don’t. I love them both so much! ♥ They always look amazing and are really the face of Angelic Pretty!

With Maki and Asuka. ♥

Then, it was time for the raffle! Everyone sat down, took a good luck at their number and waited with excitement. Maki and RinRin held up the prizes, Asuka drew numbers and one of the translators said what the prizes were and read the numbers.

Asuka drawing numbers. *drumroll*

Every time, multiple numbers were drawn and all the girls who won something got to pick a prize (there were different versions or colours of each prize) and assembled on the stage. After all the numbers for a certain line of prizes had been called up, pictures were taken with RinRin and Maki and you could sit down again.

RinRin and Maki showing the next prizes.

It was very exciting to see who won and what they won! Of course I was constantly hoping for my number to be drawn, but at the same time I was happy for whoever won something! I was sitting at quite a lucky table: Agata won a ring and Astrid, Yoki and Eveline (all sitting next to each other) won the same cutsew! However, I was the happiest for my friend Joana, who won the exact chocolate bag she really wanted! ♥

Joana with her fellow chocolate bag winners. I was so happy for her!
Picture by French Café

Unfortunately, I didn’t win anything this time. I have been extremely lucky at previous Angelic Pretty Tea Parties, but this time I wasn’t. However, everyone who didn’t win anything received an adorable little tablecloth with snowflakes on it and a Castle Mirage post card, which was really nice! ^^

My raffle prize. ^^

After the raffle there was some leftover time before the announcement of the best outfit winners, the best opportunity to take some more pictures in the amazing Tea Party room.

A group taking pictures with Maki and RinRin.

I often forget to take pictures with people, but this time I did pose with two amazing people: Ludo and Mila. Can I just say that Ludo looked like a Disney Prince? He wore Angelic Pretty, but in the classiest, most awesome way I have ever seen a man do! *swoon* And also, Mila. Well I love Mila, can’t say much more about that! I was happy we could take pictures together, since we didn’t see each other much as she was so busy. ^^

With Ludo and Mila. ♥

If you were thinking I don’t look honestly happy here, well: I was. However, the heat (despite the air-conditioning) was really getting to me. I kept drinking iced tea and water, but it never seemed enough. Ok, enough heat whining.
Finally, it was time for the results of the outfit contest! The first and second place of the contest voted for by the guests ended up in a tie! The winners? Tiya from France and a girl whose name I forgot from Germany! Coincidentally, they both wore Angelic Pretty’s Mercator Antique shop!

The two best outfit winners!

Then, it was time for Maki to pick her personal favourite outfit. Everyone had to close their eyes and Maki would walk around the room and put a special Angelic Pretty sash on the winner. It was quite exciting: you could hear Maki waned along the room, getting closer or getting further away from you. Suddenly we heard a shriek and everyone opened their eyes: Maki had put the sash on Lauren! The poor girl who had gotten caramel sauce all over her dress had won best outfit!

Lauren wore Maki’s favourite outfit of the day!
Left picture by French Café

Then it was time for the group picture! We had a bit of trouble fitting everyone in, but we somehow managed to! I don’t have a frontal picture (yet), but luckily Marie took a great picture from the side as well. ^^

The group picture of the Angelic Pretty Tea Party in Paris 2015!
Picture by French Café

We went back to the Tea Party, where Maki, Asuka and RinRin thanked us for coming. They told us the Tea Party had sadly come to an end, but everyone would be handed a bag with presents in the hallway. My table was up first, so I said goodbye to the beautiful room and walked into the hallway. It’s strange, but something Joana said suddenly came back to me: we would never ever even enter these hotels. It’s our dresses that get us inside. Isn’t that beautiful? XD
I arrived in the hallway, where Maki and RinRin handed Angelic Pretty bags to all the guests and waved them goodbye.

RinRin handing out goodie bags.

I picked up my bag and of course took a look at what was inside. We didn’t just get a Tea Party souvenir, but actually multiple things! We all received a lovely ‘thank you’ card, an amazing Tea Party badge with the Dolly Cat cat on it and three different clear files with Cherry Marguerite, Dream Marine and Milky Cross on it. You can see them down in this post.
After a bit of waiting, I managed to approach RinRin again! I was feeling so hazy at this moment so I was glad I managed to talk to her one last time. She was the sweetest and gave me the most amazing pep talk and told me to write her. I don’t remember everything she said unfortunately but I do know that I cried (again) and that she made me so happy! ♥ Thank you RinRin, you are amazing…

A last picture with RinRin. ♥

Maki and Asuka spotted me crying and I said I was really happy I could meet RinRin again. I asked: ‘Can you take her with you again for the next Tea Party?’ RinRin translated for me and Asuka said: ‘Ah, you like RinRin?’ with a smile. I thought that was cute. ^^
I was also very happy to be able to give her my present! I had bought a package of stroopwafels (very loved typical Dutch cookies) for her, Maki and Asuka. She was so happy with them and told me she really loved them when she tried them in the Netherlands in 2013! I also managed to give Maki and Asuka their gifts and they were happy with them. ^^

RinRin, Maki and Asuka with their gifts.

Somewhere in between, I also received an amazing-looking chocolate bar from Agata! Thank you so much again dear! ♥
I took some more pictures with people, including Honda-san, and then it was finally time to leave the Tea Party. At this point I was feeling so terrible there was only one thing I wanted: get changed. While Marina, Roxane and Anastassia took pictures and waited for me I went to the toilets and somehow got changed into a normal dress. I looked like a mess, so no more pictures of me from this point. XD But I felt so much better, God that was the best choice ever.
I went back to Marina and her friends and we left the hotel. It was so hot outside! My poor friends were still in Lolita, argh!
While my friends were checking their phones for a place to eat, I was looking for my metro ticket when suddenly, we spotted RinRin and her camera crew a little further away to film another segment for RinRin’s appearance on Kawaii International. She was wearing her Mermaid Kingdom dress again. She spotted us and waved and since my friend were busy, I approached RinRin one last time and thanked her for being so amazing. ♥ We talked some more for the last time and then it was time for her to go. Thank you for inspiring me so much RinRin, you are incredible.

Bye bye RinRin!

Together with Marina, Roxane and Anastassia I walked for a while until we reached a McDonald’s. There, we had dinner (obviously) and just talked and talked for ages. The girls spoke a lot of French and taught me some interesting things. It was really nice. ^^
Finally, we left McDonald’s again (or as some French say ‘DoMac’ as I learned). On the way to the metro Marina and I had a really touching conversation that I am not letting you into, but still wanted to mention so I would remember it myself. ^^
Marina and I returned to her apartment where I had the best shower of my life. Never in my life have I taken completely cold showers, but this weekend I did. And it was great. x)
I had brought stroopwafels for Marina and her boyfriend as well. We would have loved to have a small ‘stroopwafel party’ with some friends, but we ended up having a lovely, unexpected evening with just the three of us with a chocolate fountain, fruit and stroopwafels. It was super nice. ^^

A chocolate fountain to end the day with. What could be better?

Finally, it was time to go to bed. It had been an incredibly long day and the next day would be very eventful as well, so we needed our sleep. ^^

Purchases and gifts of the day

And to end this post with, here is the video I made about out the meeting with RinRin and the Angelic Pretty Tea Party! Please check it out if you have the time! ^^ I hope you like this video! One more to come~!

Disclaimer

All writing and most of the photographs are mine and may not be reproduced elsewhere without my permission (or at least back link it). This blog expresses the opinions of one girl. I am not affiliated with any companies. Most photographs are my own with the exception of a few. I do not take credit for those.